NEELSVILLE S SUMMER READING PROGRAM

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1 NEELSVILLE S SUMMER READING PROGRAM Neelsville Middle School Neelsville Church Road Germantown, MD Dear Parents/Guardians of Neelsville Middle School Students, May 28, 2009 The Montgomery County Public School system requires students to complete a summer reading program. The purpose of this program is to provide practice in reading, which will strengthen your child's reading skills and enhance his/her performance at school in the coming school year. Research shows that if students don t continue to read over the summer then they will lose reading gains they made during the previous school year. Students are expected to read three books (one fiction, one non-fiction, and a third of their choice either fiction or non-fiction), which they have never read before. They should choose books by authors on the enclosed list of recommended authors. The recommended authors cover a wide range of reading levels, topics, and types of text (fiction, non-fiction, auto/biography). It is advised that parents review with their children several books for interest and readability before making selections. Librarians and bookstore consultants can assist in determining levels of difficulty for individual titles. After the students read the books, they must complete a book report. Samples for the fiction, autobiography/biography, and nonfiction books are attached. A report should be completed as soon as the book is read and stored for safekeeping. During the first week of school, English teachers will collect the reports. Students who register after August 1, 2009, will have until the last week of the first grading period to complete the reports. In English 7 and 8 and in Reading 6, summer reading will be addressed in a graded brief or extended constructed response or in a project relating the elements of a story in Unit 1 and will count for no less than 10% of the student s first quarter grade. If you should need another packet, they are available in Neelsville's Main Office or the Counseling Office. Additionally, the entire packet is available on Neelsville's website at If you have any questions, you may contact Mrs. Vickey Brown, English IRT, or Ms. Anne Isleib, Reading Specialist, at or Victoria_L_Brown@mcpsmd.org or Anne_L_Isleib@mcpsmd.org. Thank you for your support of the Summer Reading Program. Sincerely The Reading/English Department

2 RECOMMENDED AUTHORS (Fiction) Dickinson, Peter Konigsburg, E. L. Pullman, Philip Avi * Dorris, Michael Korman, Gordon * Rinaldi, Ann Alexander, Lloyd * Dowing Hahn, Mary # Kostick, Conor # Roberts, Willo Davis Armstrong, William H. Doyle, Brian * Kropp, Paul * Rodowsky, Colby Auch, MJ # Draper, Sharon Lasky, Kathryn Rowling, J. K.* Banks, Lynne Reid Duncan, Lois Lawrence, Ian Sachar, Louis * Barron, T. A. Dygard, Thomas Lee, Tanith Salisbury, Graham # Berlin, Eric # Farmer, Nancy LeGuin, Ursula Schwartz, Alvin * Beth Pfeffer, Susan # Fenner, Carol L Engle, Madeleine Scieszka, John * Blume, Judy Ferguson, Alane # Lewis, C. S. Scrimger, Richard * Braun, Lillian Jackson Flake, Sharon Lisle, Janet Sleaton, William Bunting, Eve * Fleishman, Sid * London, Jack * Shafer, Audrey # Cabot, Meg Flinn, Alex # Lord, Cynthia # Shan, Darren Card, Orson Scott Fox, Paula Lowry, Lois Smith, Roland #* Carson-Hollander, Gail Funke, Cornelia * MacHale, D. J. * Snicket, Lemony * Carter, Ally # Gantos, Jack * MacGregor, Roy * Soto, Gary * Christopher, Matt * George, Jean Craighead Mazer, Harry * Speare, Elizabeth Clements, Andrew # Gleitzman, Morris * McCaffrey, Anne Spinelli, Jerry* Choi, Sook Nyl Graff, Lisa # McDaniel, Lurlene Stroud, Jonathan * Cisneros, Sandra Grimes, Nikki McKernan, Victoria # Taylor, Mildred Clark, Mary Higgins Gutman, Dan * McKinley, Robin Temple, Frances Cleary, Beverly Haddix, Margaret * McKissack, Patricia Tharp, Tim # Cole, Stephen Hamilton, Virginia Myers, Walter Dean * Tolkien, J. R. R. Colfer, Eoin * Harmon, Michael # Naylor, Phyllis Turner, Megan Reynolds Collier, James & Hartinger, Brent # Nixon, Joan L. Uchida, Yoshiko Christopher Cooney, Caroline * Hautman, Pete # O Connor, Barbara # VandeVelde, Vivian * Cooper, Susan * Hesse, Karen O Dell, Scott Voigt, Cynthia Coville, Bruce * Hicks, Betty # Oppel, Kenneth Walters, Eric * Creech, Sharon Hobbs, Will * Osbourne, Mary Pope Wallace, Bill Crutcher, Chris * Hoffius, Stephen Paterson, Katherine Wells, Rosemary # Cummings, Priscilla Horowitz, Anthony * Paulsen, Gary Westall, Robert Dahlber, Maureen # Hughes, Dean Peck, Richard White, Ruth Danzinger, Paula Jacques, Brian * Philbrick, Rodman * Wilder, Laura DeFelice, Cynthia Jones, Dianna Wynne Pierce, Tamora Woodson, Jacqueline Dessen, Sarah Kehret, Peg Pike, Christopher Wright, Betty Ren DiCamillo, Kate Key, Watt # Pinkwater, D. M. * Yolen, Jane Klause, Annette Pitchford, Dean # Zindel, Paul * Authors with an asterisk have been recommended by male students. The above list shares SUGGESTED authors that students might choose to read over the summer. It is imperative that students read books as close to their reading ability as possible this ensures the most growth. Students may also select from the following series: The Royal Diaries, Dear America Books, and American Girl. Student s Reading Level: (this can be found using their STAR, Lexile or MAP R scores). Students may use the website to find out the Lexile of books they are interested in reading over the summer or during the school year. You can search by book title or author to find the Lexile rating. Students can learn more about their Lexile scores by asking their teacher their Lexile score can be found with their MAP R score.

3 FICTION BOOK REPORT Main Character: A. Write the main character's full name. B. Name two character traits (not a physical description, but a distinguishing feature of an inner quality or of personality, for example, fair - treats people equally and fairly; not prejudiced) and then find 2 quotations from the book that support these traits. C. Note the page number(s) from which the quotation from the book comes. Setting of the novel: A. Name the location or locations of WHERE most of the novel takes place (for example, Mr. Betts house in Fairfax, Virginia). B. Note the year(s) WHEN the story takes place (for example, 1860's during the Civil War). Use the information below and the CSI strategy to write three paragraphs (BCRs). Your report will not be considered complete without the three paragraphs. Paragraph Paragraph Focus Number 1 Describe the major problem or conflict in the novel. 2 Explain how the conflict is resolved or brought to an end. 3 Explain your opinion of the book. Claim - What do you know? -Write a topic sentence that answers the prompt. Support How do you know? -Include 2-3 specific examples or quotes. -Use signal phrases like For example, In the text, On page, it states,. Interpret - What have you learned or noticed? -This is not found in the text. It comes from your brain! -Connect all of your support to write a closing statement about the topic.

4 NON-FICTION BOOK REPORT Subject of the book: Write a paragraph summarizing or explaining the topic of the book you read. Begin with a topic sentence, followed by two or three supporting sentences and a closing sentence. Notable vocabulary: List five (5) technical or special words unique to this book that you found new or interesting. Notable facts: In complete sentences, write five facts or ideas you learned. Use the information below and the CSI strategy to write a paragraph (BCR). Your report will not be considered complete without this paragraph. Paragraph Paragraph Focus Number 1 Explain your opinion of the book. Claim - What do you know? -Write a topic sentence that answers the prompt. Support How do you know? -Include 2-3 specific examples or quotes. -Use signal phrases like For example, In the text, On page, it states,. Interpret - What have you learned or noticed? -This is not found in the text. It comes from your brain! -Connect all of your support to write a closing statement about the topic.

5 NON-FICTION BOOK REPORT: BIOGRAPHY REPORT Subject of the auto/biography: A. Give the full name of the person. B. Identify two character traits of the person (not a physical description, but a distinguishing feature of an inner quality or of personality, for example, fair treats people equally; not prejudiced) and then find quotations from the book that support these traits. C. Give the page number(s) from which the quotations come. Accomplishments: Write a paragraph explaining TWO MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS of the person. Write about what was achieved, and how it was achieved. Begin with a claim sentence, followed by four to six supporting sentences (2 4 for each accomplishment) and a closing interpretation sentence. Non-Fiction Autobiographies and biographies (by any author) of scientists, artists, actors, writers, athletes, musicians, politicians, inventors, religious leaders, and explorers are all appropriate. Also, books on the following topics are appropriate for the designated grade level: 6th 7th 8th Ancient Egypt The Renaissance Colonization Ancient civilizations (European inventors and American Revolution Sumer inventions up to the 18 th Slavery Mesopotamia century) Civil War Indus River Islamic Culture China Lands of Latin America Mayan Aztecs Incas Chesapeake Bay Earthquakes/Volcanoes Life Science Heredity Forces & Motion Light & Sound